Bangkok, Thailand, March 09, 2025 – A capacity building workshop for Viet Nam on electronic phytosanitary certificates was held in Ho Chi Minh City, from 4 -5 March 2025. The workshop was part of the regional STDF-funded project “Strengthening phytosanitary compliance to boost seed trade in the Asia Pacific (STDF/PG/755)“, whose objectives include enhancing the adoption of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)’s ePhyto solution in the participating countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam).
The workshop brought together government experts from Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand, as well as global private sector experts, who shared challenges, benefits and strategies when implementing the IPPC ePhyto solution in their respective countries. These experiences were valued by Vietnamese stakeholders, as the country is in the early stages of establishing its ePhyto processes.
Dr. Shivendra Bajaj, Project Manager of the STDF project implemented by APAARI, provided an overview of the initiative, highlighting efforts that led to the organization of the workshop. He thanked the Director General of the Plant Production and Protection Department, MARD for the guidance and support in organizing this workshop, as well as Croplife Viet Nam, for playing a major role in organizing the event.
Dr. Ravi Khetarpal, Executive Director of APAARI, highlighted the workshop’s critical role in facilitating digital advancements in phytosanitary documentation and the benefits it can bring for Viet Nam agriculture, sharing: “Viet Nam has expanded significantly its agricultural exports and keeping pace with global advancements in Phytosanitary measures including ePhyto solution will further accelerate its exports”
Dr. Le Vien Thiet, Deputy Director General, Plant Production and Protection Department (PPPD), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment stressed the importance of embracing digital solutions in agriculture. He stated: “We are delighted to co-organize the ePhyto workshop with international organizations to discuss the digital solutions for seed trade improvement in the ways of faster, secured and cheaper”.
Mr. Haddon Bell, Director, Plant Exports Branch, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australian Government highlighted the importance of ePhyto for industry growth: “ePhyto is necessary in order to keep pace with the industry growth, improve certificate security and help protect the world’s plant and agricultural products from pests and disease. The benefits of ePhyto are immeasurable.”
Mr. Nguyen Quang Hieu, Deputy Director General, PPPD for the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shared concluding remarks, reaffirming Viet Nam’s commitment to modernizing its plant quarantine processes. “I am delighted that APAARI with support from the STDF has organized this very important workshop specifically for Viet Nam. We remain focused on improving management efficiency and modernizing the plant quarantine process. We hope to continue receiving the support of international partners and stakeholders like we did in this workshop to accelerate our process of digitalization on plant quarantine.
The workshop marked a significant step forward for Viet Nam in advancing its phytosanitary compliance, while fostering regional collaboration and equipping participating countries with the tools to facilitate smoother and more efficient agricultural trade.
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About the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)
The STDF is a global multi-stakeholder partnership to facilitate safe and inclusive trade, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WTO, which houses and manages the partnership. The STDF responds to evolving needs, drives inclusive trade and contributes to sustainable economic growth, food security and poverty reduction, in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
About Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI)
APAARI, established by FAO in 1990, is a membership-based, apolitical and multistakeholder organization promoting agricultural research and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. It unites National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), international research centres, universities, NGOs, and the private sector, with members from 33 countries. APAARI’s mission is to strengthen agri-food research systems through partnerships, capacity building, and advocacy for sustainable agriculture.
